Can sleep apnea cause blindness? A new study in Taiwan discovered that people with sleep apnea are more likely to develop glaucoma compared to those without sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has been
linked to serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease, and now glaucoma. Therefore, it is important that clinicians are aware of the possible health conditions that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients might be at risk of, educate their patients, and encourage those who require the treatment to take up and adhere to their treatment.
The retrospective study used the population-based dataset to study the prevalence and risk of the most common form of glaucoma and sleep apnea. 1,012 patients aged 40 and older who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea from 2001-2004 and compared to 6,072 matched cohort control patients to determine the risk of developing glaucoma within 5 years of OSA diagnosis, were found to be 1.67 times higher for those who had sleep apnea as compared to the control subjects. This study shows that OSA is an independent risk factor for glaucoma, a significant relationship between the two conditions, and a marker of poor health with the large numbers of people worldwide suffering from both conditions.
OSA is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes one to stop breathing during sleep with symptoms including loud frequent snoring, choking or gasping when sleeping, pauses in breathing,
morning headaches, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Glaucoma affects 60 million worldwide, if left untreated it reduces peripheral vision and causes blindness by damaging the optic nerve, and only half of the people who have glaucoma are aware of it as the disease is painless and vision loss is gradual.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring, daytime sleepiness, irritability, and low energy, it is important to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis early and the underlying issue of the cause of sleep apnea. Depending on your financial situation and sleep apnea condition, the doctor will work through with you the type of sleep apnea test in the comfort of your home or an in-lab sleep test to determine the precise nature of your condition to avoid any long-term issues. Besides most insurance companies now pay for sleep testing and CPAP OSA treatment, early intervention with a sleep apnea device can stop snoring or one can a sleep apnea CPAP trial from the equipment supplier or distributor that distributes a range of sleep apnea machine and CPAP supplies for a better quality of sleep and healthier overall well-being.
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